Derrybawn Mountain Lodge

9.5 4 reviews

Mountain refuge in the Wicklow Mountains National Park
Five minutes' drive from Glendalough and 40 from Dublin outskirts
A 15-minute drive from the highest pub in Ireland

A mountain lodge on the edge of a scenic mountain range, close to hikes, bikes, stately piles and city streets… all that and it’s eco friendly? If that’s ticking all the right boxes, then hurry along to Derrybawn Mountain Lodge, a five-minute drive from the village of Laragh, high in the Wicklow mountains. The site’s on the edge of the Wicklow Mountains National Park, so expect plenty of hikes and bikes up scenic hills and through pretty vales – Derrybawn's on the old hiking trail from the coast to the monastic settlement at Glendalough. Or take the car out for a spin along the winding road that leads to the mountains’ peaks for spectacular views. And if neither mode of transport appeals? Hire a bike on site to get out on two wheels. For a bit of history, an easy jaunt into Glendalough is a must: it’s a five-minute drive from base, but a day or two should definitely be devoted to walks around the lakes and foothills and a stroll through the medieval monastic settlement that the area is famous for. Once a thirst has been worked up, head to one of the pubs in the small village or back in Laragh for a pint. After days of explores, settle in for quiet evenings back on site: spend some time in the games room before dinner, then get stuck into sizzling up your evening eats in the cooking area.

Campground type

Opens 1 January 2026

Languages spoken

English

German

Russian

Portuguese

Simplified Chinese

Open from Thu, 1 Jan 2026 to Fri, 31 Dec 2027

Nearby campgrounds that are bookable on Pitchup.com

Unfortunately, we have no nearby bookable campgrounds.

Features

Dogs allowed

Leisure on site

Bar or club house Cycle hire Evening entertainment Fishing Fitness centre Games room Indoor swimming pool Kids' club On-site restaurant/cafe Outdoor swimming pool Play area Pétanque TV room Take away Tennis Watersports

Amenities on site

Bath available Car parking by site/unit Composting toilet Dog park Drying room Food shop Free wifi Ice pack freezing Internet access Laundry Parent & baby washroom Pick-up from public transport Portable toilet Pub toilets Public telephone Shower available Toilet block Washing-up area Wifi

Groups welcome

Family friendly Motorcycle friendly Single-sex groups welcome Student groups welcome

Rules

Barbecue provided Barbecues allowed Campfires allowed Commercial vehicles allowed Dogs allowed Dogs allowed all year

Themes

Bush Lake and/or mountain Remote location Walkers' paradise Wild camping Wildlife haven

Utilities

Charging facilities Dump point Electric car charging point(s) Gas cylinders available Recycling available Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Convenience store nearby Dog walk nearby Public transport nearby

Type

Vineyard

Nearby leisure

Climbing nearby Cycle hire nearby Cycling nearby Fishing nearby Leisure/theme park nearby Mountain biking nearby Restaurant nearby

Location

Derrybawn Mountain Lodge

Old Military Road

Cullentragh Big

Wicklow

Co. Wicklow

Republic of Ireland

A67 PW61

Directions

Timezone

Europe/Dublin GMT (GMT+01:00)

GPS

52.99151°N
-6.30997°W

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Local attractions

If you’ve not had enough hiking locally, don’t worry – there’s plenty more not far away. Avondale House and Forest Park (15 minutes’ drive), the waterfalls at Devil’s Glen (20 minutes) and Powerscourt Waterfall (half an hour) are all popular picks, and the Bray-Greystones cliff walk is about 40 minutes away. Seaside day without the hike? Brittas Bay beach (35 minutes) has several kilometres of sand and dunes to scramble about in. For a change of activity, aim for Clara Lara Funpark (five minutes) for waterslides, obstacle courses, canoeing and ziplining, or take fishing kit up to Blessington Lakes (35 minutes). Or, to dial the pace down a little, perhaps plan wanders among the plants at Kilmacurragh Botanic Gardens (20 minutes) or Mount Usher Gardens (25 minutes), or take a walk around Vartry Reservoir (15 minutes) to earn yourself a pint at the highest pub in Ireland. Time for some bright lights, big city action? Stop off for pics at Ireland’s answer to the Hollywood sign in, yes, Hollywood (half an hour), then grab a spot at the Carrickmines park and ride (35 minutes) for easy outings to the centre of Dublin by public transport.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name	Distance	Type	2020	2019	2018	2017
Silver Strand	20.4 km	Sea	Good	Good	Excellent	Good
Brittas Bay North	20.9 km	Sea	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent
Brittas Bay South	21 km	Sea	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent
Greystones South	23.8 km	Sea	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent
Bray South Promenade	27.5 km	Sea	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent

Data source: European Environment Agency

Payment terms

Offers

Conditions apply - see site type section for details

Reviews

would recommend this campground to a friend

would stay here again

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1

Only showing reviews for the last 30 months.

One of many waterfalls on the trail from the campsite.

Wicklow heather pub - the irish stew and local lamb were exceptional.

Back to basics reset on life. Andrew was a fantastic, interesting and…

Overall	10/10
Location	10
Value for money	10
Accommodation	10
Facilities / Activities	10
Customer service	10
Child friendliness	10
Cleanliness	6
Wifi	6

Victoria T. July 2023

Mountainside Forest Basecamp unpowered forest floor tent site

Liked: Back to basics reset on life. Andrew was a fantastic, interesting and knowledgeable host. We felt very welcomed and he was full of top tips for days out and local dining. The site was peaceful and natural in a beautiful national park forest. The local hikes were stunning and the people super friendly. To see my 11 year old skipping with joy and leaving his phone to one side in favour of whittling was a joyful sight.

Disliked: Nothing. If you go there knowing it’s a wild camping experience you won’t be disappointed.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Amazing facilities and stunning remote area, grma!

Overall	10/10
Location	10
Value for money	10
Accommodation	10
Facilities / Activities	10
Customer service	10
Child friendliness	10
Cleanliness	10
Wifi	10

Katie Q. June 2023

Mountainside Forest Basecamp unpowered forest floor tent site

Liked: Had such an amazing stay. The isolated location was perfect for our country break from the city! Andrew was an extremely welcoming and helpful host… as we we came quite poorly prepared he told us of lots of hikes, swimming spots and opportunities in the local area. The campsite has its own well and the water was the nicest we’ve ever tasted. We were lucky to be the only people on the campsite and enjoyed a wholesome night by the campfire! We will definitely be returning in the future!

Disliked: The only thing I will say, is if you want to experience Glendalough and Wicklow to its fullest you will need a car.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Perfect if you want wild camping, with basic features of a campsite.

Overall	10/10
Location	10
Value for money	10
Accommodation	No rating
Facilities / Activities	No rating
Customer service	No rating
Child friendliness	10
Cleanliness	No rating
Wifi	No rating

Jennifer M. June 2023

Mountainside Forest Basecamp unpowered forest floor tent site

Liked: Everything! We travelled as a group of x2 families with children. I feel like this is the closest you can get to wild camping, whilst still having the luxury of a guaranteed spot and a toilet! The surroundings are magical with so much to do - walks to Glendalough, swimming in nearby rivers, or just chilling in the beautiful & peaceful camp. If you want to glamp, this is not the best place for that. If you want an authentic camping experience (i.e close to nature), then this is the perfect place. You'll wake up to the sound of birds singing and hens clucking. Andrew was great with the kids, keeping them entertained - teaching them about nature, hunting for fresh eggs. The campsite backs onto the Wicklow way where you can walk directly to Glendalough, with magical views along the way.

Disliked: Nothing

Recommend to friends Visit again

Quirky - not your average campsite experience!

Overall	8/10
Location	8
Value for money	6
Accommodation	6
Facilities / Activities	6
Customer service	8
Child friendliness	6
Cleanliness	8
Wifi	4

Roy C. June 2023

Mountainside Forest Basecamp unpowered forest floor tent site

Liked: Eco feel, close to nature, very friendly host and not being on a crowded campsite.
Great communication from Andrew

Disliked: Pitch was a bit lumpy (but OK) and felt a bit "random".

Recommend to friends Visit again

Frequently asked questions

Does Derrybawn Mountain Lodge have a swimming pool? No View all features
Is Derrybawn Mountain Lodge dog friendly? Yes View all features
What attractions are near Derrybawn Mountain Lodge? If you’ve not had enough hiking locally, don’t worry – there’s plenty more not far away. Avondale House and Forest Park (15 minutes’ drive), the waterfalls at Devil’s Glen (20 minutes) and … Read more